second life

The Linden Prize rewards a Second Life project that enhances the way people work, learn and communicate in the real world. [learn more ]

********** 2nd CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS **********

Proposal Submission Deadline: February 28, 2010

*** Virtual Worlds, Second Life and Metaverse Platforms: New Communication
and Identity Paradigms ***

A book edited by:Nelson Zagalo, University of MinhoLeonel Morgado, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, and Ana Boa-Ventura, The University of Texas at Austin

To be published by IGI
Global: http://www.igi-global.com/requests/details.asp?ID=794

***Introduction***

The metaverse is emerging, through the increasing use of virtual world
technologies that act as platforms for end-users to create, develop, and
interact, expanding the realm of human communication, and collaboration.

Michael Wright aka. Mrags Writer
Professor Digital Media
Virtual World Project 2009
Otis College of Art and Design

The Project: Anarchy City

The goal of the project was to go into second life and create content based on a
Class-developed theme. Three Concepts and Issues Classes consisting of 66 digital media sophomore students participated in this project. The project required team building, out of the box creative thinking, introducing students to working with 3d & 2d virtual tools in real time, working with a budget, working with a deadline and working with a limited amount of building blocks (primitives). All three classes worked on a common theme, an apocalyptic city. Three hours of in-class time and 10 hours of outside of class time were devoted to this project. The project can be viewed in Second Life at IBE AM
(239, 211, 26) through March 2010.

The project summery:

I had no idea how much time I was going to be investing into trying to build a campus in SL. I have built, and now torn down, four full campuses;  each with a completely different spin on how to attempt to set up an educational environment within a virtual world.

As Second Life continues to be a rich environment to virtually extend the classroom, it is helpful for educators to be able to create custom content. Ball State University is now offering a class entitled, "Building 101: The Building Blocks of Second Life."

Building 101 is an 8-hour intense crash course that will cover all aspects of Beginner and Intermediate building in Second Life, from prim creation and movement to basic use of scripts, sculpties and animations.

This course will be an asset to educators as they not only design their curriculum, but also as they build their classrooms.

Building 101 will be beginning July 11 and continue through August 1, 2009. Class will be held Saturdays, 9 to 11 am Second Life Time (PST). The cost for this course is $149.